So what are parsnips? They are a root vegetable similar in appearance to a carrot, except they are white or cream colored. They are grown and harvested in the same manner as carrots as well. Their flesh is dense, like a carrot and very high in fiber. Parships are alsohigh in anti-oxidants and vitamin C.

I'm sure you have heard of parsnips. I am equally sure that you wondered what exactly they are, and how to cook them. Parsnips are a very underused vegetable, and I am not really sure why. They are every bit as delicious as any other root vegetable, in fact, they are sweeter and even tastier than many of their more bland relations like turnips. Many people also feel they are sweeter than carrots and are a great compliment vegetable to be cooked with carrots.

I would like to share with you, a few of my favorite recipes that include Parsnips. I think you will find them to be a great vegetable that you have been missing out on!

Gardening With No Bending or Kneeling!

I have bad knees, which makes gardening very difficult. Kneeling is totally out of the question, so planting and weeding in the ground is quite miserable for me. I was afraid that I was going to have to give up growing my own veggies when I ran across an idea on the internet that was the answer to my problem. They are called elevated garden beds.

​Have you ever wanted to add a touch of flavor to something and didn't quite know how? I make these delicious shortbread cookies and I always wanted to try adding cinnamon to them. I tried the powdered kind of cinnamon, but it really did not have the richness of flavor I was looking for. Then one day I was in the grocery store and I saw their selection of extracts. They had all kinds of them, coconut, rum, butterscotch and many more. Being the do-it-yourselfer that I am, I wondered if I could make they from scratch. I am always concerned about what goes into the items that are sold in stores, and I don't trust labels, that is why I like to make things myself.

So I did what anyone would do when they want to know something....I looked on the internet!
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I love vinaigrette salad dressing! There are so many different types, I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you. You just whisk together the ingredients and chill for an hour. Simple to make and so delicious.

Below are three of the dressings that I use the most, a basic vinaigrette, a balsamic vinaigrette and a tart and sweet raspberry vinaigrette. They are great on sprouts or slaw, as well as salad. Don't want to pay the high price for sprouts? See how easily you can grow your own in my blog postGrow Your Own Sprouts

I found out about Castile soap from a book that I got on Amazon about Grandma's Remedies and Recipes. It swore by the value of Castile soap and basically said it could be used for just about everything. So I tried it, and I found out that it is partially true. It can be used for lots of things, but some, not so much, like toothpaste. Castile is an all natural soap made from plant oils and that's all. No animal products, no chemicals, no preservatives. It is completely green and biodegradable. Castile is real soap, not the poisonous garbage that you buy in the store to wash your hands, clothes and hair. You can use Castile to wash all those, it's easy, cheaper and more earth friendly.

​Just a short post for you all today, but really useful! Over the weekend, I was attacked by a really bad case of heartburn. That is a most uncomfortable sensation! Sometimes it's even scary as you wonder if it is something else that is worse.

I remembered the remedy my Mother always used when she got heartburn, so I went searching for our good old friend apple cider vinegar. I swear sometimes I wonder if there is anything that vinegar or baking soda won't cure or clean!